Penn State Parents & Families Weekend is one of the best weekends of the year to see your student — but it's also when State College books solid. The #1 thing: lock in your hotel now. Below is everything else worth knowing. (Tell me your student's at Penn State and I'll make sure you never miss a date like this again.)
The one thing to do first: book your hotel
State College is a small town with a limited number of hotel rooms, and family weekend usually lands on a home football weekend — which means rooms sell out months in advance and prices climb fast. If you're planning to go and haven't booked yet, that's the single most urgent thing on this list. Look at nearby towns (Bellefonte, Boalsburg) if State College is full.
Plan around the game
Family weekend is typically built around a Nittany Lions home game at Beaver Stadium, and a White Out crowd is an experience. If you want tickets, buy early — they go quickly once the schedule and kickoff times are set. Check the official Penn State Athletics schedule to confirm the matchup and time before you plan the rest of your weekend.
Make the most of the weekend
Never miss a Penn State date again
Larzo is a private companion for college parents. Tell it your student's at Penn State once, and it remembers the whole year — family weekend before the hotels fill, Thanksgiving and winter break before flights get pricey, care-package timing — and gently checks in on how you're doing with them away.
Join the early group →Common questions
Dates are based on Penn State's published calendar; always confirm times and the football schedule on Penn State's official athletics and Student Affairs pages before booking.